Author: Staff Writer
SEACOM, Africa’s leading telecommunications and managed services provider, today celebrated its 15th corporate anniversary by spotlighting the group’s impact on the continent’s ICT and connectivity journey. “15 years ago today, Africa’s trajectory was forever changed with the introduction of fibre connectivity. In that time, the SEACOM group has evolved to become not just a leading connectivity provider, but an industry leader in the provision of IT and enterprise managed services. We owe these achievements to the hard work and commitment of all our SEACOM colleagues, and the ongoing loyalty and support of our clients, partners, and stakeholders,” said Alpheus Mangale,…
June 2024 was a challenging month for South Africa’s automotive sector, with declines in both new and used car sales. According to AutoTrader, the used vehicle market – at 27,750 units – contracted by -6.4% versus the same month last year. The accumulated value of used car sales also declined in June 2024 – by -6% – to R11.312 billion. The accumulated value of the used car market in June 2023 was R12.029 billion. According to naamsa | The Automotive Business Council, the June 2024 new passenger car market – at 26,928 units – declined by -9.0% versus June 2023.…
The South African startup ecosystem ended 2023 on a high note. Demonstrating the resilience that has become a hallmark of the industry, the venture capital (VC) sector’s performance defied the downward trend in annual deals observed since 2020. The local information and communication technology (ICT) sector once again captured investor interest, underscoring its leading role in economic development and innovation. These insights were highlighted in this year’s SAVCA VC Survey Launch 2024, an annual research initiative by the Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SAVCA). The survey was unveiled last week at an event held at the Westin…
Plentify, a pioneering climate tech company, has closed a 50% oversubscribed funding round from top African and North American venture investors to fuel its growth in South Africa and commence its international expansion. “Whether you’re trying to fix a weak grid like South Africa’s or make the transition to clean energy like every country in the world, the fundamental problem is the same—a mismatch between the timing of energy demand and clean energy supply. Plentify’s residential load management platform addresses this problem for 75% less than the cost of batteries,” says Jon Kornik, Co-Founder and CEO of Plentify. Plentify’s suite…
Digital payments service provider Peach Payments has acquired customer software development firm Operativa. The acquisition was the first by Peach Payments since closing a $30 million funding round, led by the Apis Growth Fund II, last year. The acquisition sees the full Operativa team integrated into Peach Payments, with Operativa co-founders Dayne Olivier and Ben Janecke taking on Principal Engineer positions. Olivier and Janecke have worked with Peach Payments since 2022, building and maintaining a number of the company’s payments systems and solutions. The pair and their team have been instrumental in building the technical architecture that has paved the…
If there’s one thing that moves South Africans deeply, it’s the power that sports holds to unite and ignite a collective spirit of passion and glory. South Africans embody greatness, each person carrying a spark of potential, whether they’re athletes or not. This is a nation where sports are more than games, matches, and lifting trophies—they are a source of inspiration and unity that resonates deeply within every heart, celebrating not only star athletes but also the unsung heroes who excel in their craft, often away from the spotlight, yet always giving their best to ensure every victory is a…
Whether you’re an athlete on the field or a fan amidst the roaring seats of a full stadium, you know the feeling – a racing pulse, mind, and body in focus with eyes on the goal and a confidence that can’t be extinguished. That fierce energy finally has an outlet with the arrival of Under Armour’s latest Unstoppable Collection, where the worlds of high-performance sport and street gear collide. Whether you’re a footballer, athlete, or fan – the Under Armour Unstoppable Collection goes beyond performance and allows you to FEEL your best to PERFORM at your best. “The confidence we…
Lula, an enterprise ride sharing platform which was launched eight years ago, has announced its acquisition of Zeelo’s operations in South Africa, a move that will see this local scale up grow significantly. The operations will transition to Lula’s tech-enabled ride-sharing solution, which enables people to be collected from their homes and taken to work and back again safely and reliably. Co-Founder and Executive Director, Xabiso Nodada, says that he – alongside CEO Velani Mboweni- started the business to connect people in emerging cities to economic opportunities, one shared ride at a time. “Without access to transport, you cannot access…
Novus Holdings has announced a R55 million investment in Bytefuse, an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) company, to enhance its capabilities to deliver enterprise scale AI solutions. Having observed Bytefuse’s success in enhancing Maskew Miller Learning’s (MML) educational services through advanced AI solutions, Novus decided to acquire a strategic shareholding in Bytefuse. “AI is at the forefront of significant change in our society, and our work with MML demonstrates its potential to create significant value in education,” said Greg Newman, Chief Executive Officer at Bytefuse. “This investment from Novus Holdings will enable us to scale our solutions and bring AI-driven innovation…
The 2024 Pan-African Data Centres Exhibition and Conference opened at the Sandton Convention Centre today. At this gathering nearly 3,000 global data centre energy customers, as well as 120 integrators, consulting firms, and industry associations shared advanced technologies, industry insights, and highlighted innovation cases. As a key participant in the exhibition and conference, Huawei experts offered their latest insights and solutions for data centre (DC) construction as Africa enters the intelligent era. Huawei’s input in the conference agenda covered topics like data centre investment, planning, construction, servicing, and solutions. Huawei engaged with experts from well-known consulting companies and industry associations…
A recent survey has unveiled significant insights into the online shopping habits of South Africans, revealing a growing trend towards digital retail. Over 56% of South Africans shop online multiple times per month, with a notable 20% of these consumers making weekly purchases. This shift towards frequent online shopping highlights the increasing reliance on e-commerce platforms for everyday needs. Clothing and fashion dominate the online shopping scene, with 69.9% of respondents indicating that they regularly purchase apparel and accessories online. This category’s popularity can be attributed to the convenience of browsing a wide range of styles and brands from the…
Eskom announced today that the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has granted a license to continue operating Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1, which provides 930MW to the grid, for another 20 years until July 21, 2044. With this extension, Koeberg Unit 1 will join around 120 reactors worldwide that have safely operated beyond their initial 40-year lifespan. Eskom has safely operated Koeberg Nuclear Power Station for 40 years, investing in safety improvements and extensive maintenance to ensure its continued safe operation into the future. “Together with our business partners, we are proud of the achievement that ensures that Africa’s first…
Two top South African students, Thembelihle Khumalo and Thagisa Percy, have reaped the benefits of Huawei’s LEAP skills development programme, which included a trip to China. They plan on using the skills they acquired to ensure that South Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) is as inclusive and equitable as possible. Standing for Leadership, Employability, Advancement and Possibilities, LEAP aims to advance young people’s ICT skills and employability in the region. At the recent LEAP Summit 2024: ICT Talent and Sustainable Development for Sub-Saharan Africa, held in Shanghai, China, a new target of training 150,000 students was announced, marking a significant…
The solution to address youth unemployment and the skills crisis lies in how we upskill and empower youth with relevant digital skills of the future before they enter the workplace. ICT certifications are not enough to meet the rate of change needed in the workplace and secure sustainable job creation. As a result, South African companies that hire and create jobs for young people with real life practical skills that meet the current and future skills demands of business will succeed. World Youth Skills Day, observed on July 15th, recognises the importance of empowering young people with skills for employment,…
Liquid C2, a subsidiary of Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a pan-African technology group, proudly announces the expansion of its Cloudmania business into the Egyptian channel partner ecosystem. Cloudmania is Liquid C2’ award-winning distribution business unit for cloud and cyber security solutions with operations in 35 countries across the Middle East and Africa. Cloudmania’s strategic partnership with Microsoft has allowed it to equip numerous partners with cloud and cyber security services and solutions, including Microsoft 365 and Azure solutions, within a fully supported ecosystem. “Extending Cloudmania’s reach to Egypt reflects our confidence in the Egyptian economy following the launch of Liquid C2…
TurnStay, a South African travel-focused fintech, has secured $300,000 (over R5.4 million) from Silicon Valley and New York investors DFS Lab and DCG. The company plans to use the funding to expand into Africa and build on its significant traction. Founded by experienced entrepreneurs Alon Stern, co-founder of Slide Financial, and James Hedley, co-founder of Quicket, TurnStay reduces payment costs for African merchants and platforms in travel and tourism by leveraging strategies used by the world’s biggest booking companies. Stephen Deng, General Partner at DFS Lab explains: “TurnStay is building a much-needed offering for the African travel and tourism industry,…
Thuthukani, Thungela’s enterprise supplier development (ESD) programme hosted a graduation ceremony in honour of sixty-one (61) local entrepreneurs from communities surrounding its operations, who completed the programme. This is the second cohort of entrepreneurs to complete the programme since its inception in 2022. The training programme is provided by business development support partner, Raizcorp, a pioneering business incubator that supports the growth of small and medium-sized businesses. The programme equips entrepreneurs with business-skills training, technical enablement and comprehensive mentorship to build sustainable and profitable businesses. Mpumi Sithole, Executive Head for Corporate Affairs at Thungela said: “In the hands of small…
Audi South Africa is taking a significant step forward in supporting the adoption of electric vehicles by expanding its charging network. The company has announced the addition of 150kW DC rapid public chargers at strategic locations across the country. This move aims to enhance the convenience and accessibility of electric vehicle charging, making long-distance travel more feasible and supporting the growing community of electric vehicle owners in South Africa. Following extensive investments in 2022 and 2023 – during which time Audi and its strategic partners GridCars and Rubicon added more than 120 DC and AC public charging points to the…
Delegates at the 42nd Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) currently underway at the CSIR International Convention Centre in Tshwane were surprised to find colourful minibus taxis parked inside the foyer of the venue. This was a departure from previous years, but proof of the ongoing integration of South Africa’s taxi industry into the mainstream of the country’s transportation planning and policymaking. New Transport Minister Barbara Creecy officially opened the SATC event on Monday, when she noted that the taxi industry transports about 80% of all users of public transport in the country and must therefore form an integral part of…
The Shoprite Group invites all high-achieving students with a passion for retail to apply for its comprehensive bursary programme. Students enrolled for degree studies in Accounting, Biological Sciences, Information Technology, Logistics and Supply Chain, Retail Business Management, Food Sciences, and Agricultural Sciences can apply for funding from 1 July to 30 September 2024 for the 2024/2025 academic year. The bursary covers tuition and on-campus accommodation and provides a monthly grocery allowance as well as access to the Group’s Employee Wellness Programme. Most beneficiaries are offered employment upon graduation and receive on-the-job training to ensure a seamless transition into the business where…
The SKAO celebrated a significant construction milestone last Thursday with the assembly of the first SKA-Mid telescope dish on site in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. This achievement marks a major step forward in the development of the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, a project set to revolutionize radio astronomy by providing unprecedented insights into the universe. The “big lift” of its 15-m-wide main reflector onto the telescope pedestal was performed by a team from the SKAO, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) and China’s CETC54, which is manufacturing the dishes and also led the 10-country strong consortium behind their…
A human being can be conceived and brought into the world in roughly the same time it takes for a South African small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) to become aware of and report a data breach. That’s according to Jaco Voigt, Managing Director of PerfectWorx Consulting, a Cisco technology ecosystem provider. This concerning timeframe is broadly in line with the 277 days mentioned in IBM’s 2022 data security report. “The bad actors have become so sly that when one clicks on that dodgy link, nothing happens immediately. A false sense of security is created, particularly at under-resourced smaller firms that…
The latest offering from the Under Armour Infinite collection – the Under Armour Infinite Pro is a sleek, low-top running shoe with a performance edge. Designed for comfort, balance, responsiveness and performance – the UA Infinite Pro keeps you game ready for peak performance from start to finish. Under Armour’s Infinite arsenal equips athletes with everything they need for their weekly training sessions, from long days to everyday routines. Whether it’s early morning hill sprints or mid-week recovery runs, athletes are geared up with the perfect tools to enhance their running game for endless momentum. Go the distance with UA…
TymeBank has announced the appointment of Karl Westvig as its new Chief Executive Officer. The bank’s current CEO, Coenraad Jonker, will turn his full attention to his role as Executive Chairman of Tyme Group, where he will drive the growth of the multi-country digital banking group. The changes are effective 1 October 2024. TymeBank Chairman, Thabani Jali, said: “TymeBank has reshaped the banking landscape in South Africa, and the bank is on course to reach 10 million customers this year. We believe the time is right to redeploy key executives into positions that will best serve both TymeBank and the…
Under Armour, the global leader in innovative sportswear and performance gear, announces the opening of its latest Brand House store at Pavilion Mall, Westville, Durban. Located at shop 332 on the cinema level, this 228-square-metre retail space marks the 19th Brand House store in South Africa, embodying Under Armour’s commitment to delivering unparalleled shopping experiences and cutting-edge products to athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The Pavilion store features the Under Armour Brand House City Concept Evolution (BHCC EVO) retail design. This design inspiration highlights a slick and modern feel that aims to emphasize a clean aesthetic with a focus on materials…